





Che Cract Society and Slavery. 











Ee —apT 

. SPEECHES 
7 

| OF 


OHIEE JUSTICE WILLIAMS, 
JUDGE PARSONS, 


| AgeIN: 1) ) 
a GOVERNOR ELLSWORTH: 


DELIVERED IN THE CENTER CHURCH, HARTFORD, CONN. 











AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 


Ss 





| Hartford MHranch of the American Cract Society, | 


January 9th, 1859. 





SEconpypD BEDITION. 


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STEAM PRESS OF ELINU GEER, 16 STATE STREET. | ai 


MDCCCLIX. 








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TO THE READER. 


Tus DistinevisHep Names which appear on the cover of 
this pamphlet, cannot fail to secure for it an attentive perusal. A 
word of history will sufficiently inform the reader why these emi- 
nent men, (all of whom are parishioners of Rev. Dr. Hawes, and 
two of them deacons of his church,) felt themselves called upon 
to speak on the occasion. 

The Hartford Tract Society has been accustomed to hold its 
Annual Meeting early in January more than forty years—in con- 
nection with which, the friends of the cause in the City have contri- 
buted for its promotion. A short time before the anniversary of 
the Society this year, a few persons of like sympathies on the sub- 
ject, organised a new society, auxiliary to the Tract Society at 
Boston—whose first public meeting was appointed and held in the 
Center Church (Rev. Dr. Hawes’) on the evening of the 29th 
ult. The meeting was addressed by the pastor and several indi- 
viduals from abroad, two of whom in particular—Rey. Drs. Bacon 
and Patton made a most ungracious attack upon the American 

~" Tract Society—denouncing its system of colportage, and its whole 
“S management and policy as unworthy the confidence and support of 
. yy the Christian public—not sparing even the ‘ Committee of Fifteen” 
» from unmerited censure and abuse. Immediately following this 
y meeting, the Secretary of the Society at Boston, who was present, 
‘\ spent a week or more in town soliciting funds for its use—the entire 
-< movement being a violation of an agreement between the New York 
aN and Boston Societies in regard to their respective fields of labor. 
\\ In view of the above facts, the three JuDGES were constrained 
by a sense of duty to stand up in defense of the AMERICAN TRAcT 
SocrEry. EDITOR. 
HARTFORD, JAN., 1859. 












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Chief Justice WILLIAMS’ Speech. 


MR. PRESIDENT :— 


My relations to the Society of which you are a branch, 
is my apology for appearing before you. 

Tue American Tract Society was formed in New York, in 1825, 
by pious gentlemen of various denominations, to diffuse a knowl- 
edge of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of sinners, and to 
promote the interests of vital godliness and sound morality by the 
circulation of religious Tracts, calculated to receive the approbation 
of all evangelical Christians. A publishing Committee was to be 
chosen by the Directors annually, neither two of whom should be 
of the same ecclesiastical connection, and no Tract should be pub- 
lished, to which any of the Committee should object. Their object 
was to diffuse such truths as would save the soul, and promote vital 
godliness and sound morality; and, to preserve entire harmony of 
feeling and action, no Tracts were to be issued but such as in the 
opinion of each of the Committee, were calculated to receive the 
approbation of all Evangelical Christians. Now without entering 
into a discussion on the technical construction of the constitution, 
which has been so ably conducted by President Wayland on the one 
side, and Chief Justice Shipley, Dr. Smyth, and ‘‘A Massachusetts 
Clergyman” on the other, it is apparent that it was intended to 
confer on this Committee the duty ofjudging what Tracts were calcu- 
. lated to secure the approbation of all Evangelical Christians; and 
for this purpose the Committee first chosen were men connected 


with thé formation of this Society, and eminent for piety and tal- © 


ents—Milnor, Knox, Edwards, Spring, Summers and Summerfield, 
two of whom were annually elected for twenty years, and in suc- 
cession served as Chairmen of the Committee thirty years or more. 
These men must have understood the spirit of the constitution under 
which they acted, and the course which they pursued was good 
evidence to their successors of what was the true meaning of that 
Constitution. They practically adopted the rule of the excellent 
Philip Henry, which was, ‘In those things in which all the people 


eS = 


6 


of God are agreed, to spend my zeal, and as to those other things 
about which they differ, to walk according to the light God hath 
given me, and charitably to believe others to do so too.” 

Conducted by the men above named, and their successors, upon 
the principles of the Constitution, the Society pursued its quiet 
unobtrusive course for a quarter of a century, and extended its ope- 
rations over a vast field, hitherto uncultivated, carrying light and 
life into dark and benighted regions in our own and foreign lands. 
Their colporteur, with tracts in his hand, has entered into fields 
which the ministry had never cultivated, where there was no Sab- 
bath, and no Bible; there he has prayed with the sick, comforted 
the mourner with the consolations of the Gospel, proclaimed a Say- 
iour to those who had never heard of the name of Jesus, and fur- 
nished bread and water for the hungry and thirsty soul. The thanks 
of Missionaries from every quarter of the globe have been received 
by the officers of this Society, for the assistance they have had 
from the books and tracts of the Society. Clergymen and laymen 
have given the most flattering testimonials to their value. The 
Rey. Dr. Alexander says, “I doubt whether in the world, at this 
hour, there exists an organization, the Christian ministry excepted, 
which is more effective in diffusing a knowledge of the truths of the 
Gospel among all classes of the people.’’ The Rev. Baron Stow 
says, ‘‘Over all lands this Society has poured by the press, millions 
of streams of light and love. I know of no institution doing so 
much to fill the vials of incense in the hands of the angel stand- 
ing by the altar.” Letters of this kind might be cited to an indef- 
inite extent; but I will only add the testimony of the Rev. Dr. 
Tyng. 5 

In 1852 he testified his entire approbation of this cause, and 
had never seen reason:to withdraw it. In 1855 he claimed that 
there was no occasion for an apology for a Society that had pur- 
sued its course of unabated usefulness for thirty years, spreading the 
knowledge of the Gospel in alllands. fad it proved treacherous 
to any of the fundamental truths of the cross, the proper divinity 
of the Saviour, the work of the Holy Spirit, justification by faith, 
he would have denounced and deserted it long ago. But he had 
been familiar with its course from the beginning, and its teachings 
he knew to be sound to the core. He was prepared to maintain, 
in the face of the whole world, that the Tract Society’s platform 


7 


was altogether positive, altogether adequate, altogether sufficient. 
If objections were made, it was not on account of what they did, 
but on account of what they did not do. Who says our positive 
preaching of doctrine is false ? What charges are made of vicious 
practices, or vicious principles? When the Society has incorpora- 
ted a whole Bible, and not compromised a single truth ; when every 
publication is breathing of a Saviour, and every page seems like a 
feather dropped from an angel’s wing, all fragrant with the aroma 
of a higher atmosphere, and the sweet resplendence of the throne 
of God; then if men complain because we have omitted the tenth 
pin of the tabernacle, or have put a small a for a capital A, or 
have left off a word from a title page, he would deal with them as 
triflers. : 

So catholic was the foundation of the Society, and so judicious the 
course pursued, that for many years it might have been said of the 
Institution, “Woe unto you when all men speak well of you.” 

This unparalleled success roused the attention of some who were 
not desirous of seeing the progress of evangelical truth, and of oth- 
ers who felt that their pecuniary interests might suffer by the great 
circulation of religious books, and others still who were deeply 
engaged in the-cause of freedom, were aggrieved that the Society 
took no active part in this absorbing subject. To have done that, 
would have been contrary to all the rules which had governed 
the course of those who had hitherto conducted the affairs of the 
Society. It seemed too closely connected with the politics of the 
country; the subject also had been taken under the peculiar care of 
one or more societies ; it was a most exciting subject upon which 
good men greatly differed in opinion upon many points. Had the 
committee entered upon it, where should they stop if they began 
to instruct masters in the duty they owed to their slaves ?—a call 
_ would have been made for the instruction of slaves in the duty they 
owed to theirmasters; what should they say to them? Should they 
instruct them to obey their masters in all things, or to flee from 
them? Should they tell them that all men are born free and equal, 
and that they may shed the blood of the man who deprives them 
of that which is more dear than life ? or should they say, ‘‘Servants, 
be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and 
gentle but also to the froward.”” These are some of the questions 
which would arise on approaching this all absorbing subject. They 


8 


had seen churches broken up, ministers dismissed, ecclesiastical soci- 
eties divided, and the pillars of the Union shaken, in the contro- 
versy which had arisen. If under such circumstances the Publish- 
ing Committee declined.to engage in the conflict which existed on 
this interesting subject, I cannot condemn them; on the contrary, 
I would say with Col. Tronchin, President of the Italian Society, 
at Geneva, ‘While we were bound to proclaim to every soul the 
true God and eternal life, it is no time to employ ourselves upon 
minor topics, on which the family of the Redeemer may see differ- 
ently.” , 

But.as slavery was odious in the North, those who were designa- 
ted as Abolitionists set up a cry against the Society, because they 
had not made slavery the subject of their publication in one or more 
tracts—_as if the Society countenanced Popery because they had 
not published against the immaculate conception ; or that they dis- 
obeyed the command of the Saviour in directing his disciples to 
preach the Gospel to every creature, because they had not joined 
the Missionary Society in sending out the living preacher; or as if 
Paul countenanced ‘idolatry when at Athens he proposed to the 
Athenian, the worship of an unknown God; or as if our blessed 
Lord meant to sanction the despotism of the Roman Emperor, when 
in answer to the inquiry whether it was lawful to give tribute to 
Cesar, he answered, ‘‘Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, 
and to God the things that are God’s.” ‘To those who then took 
the lead in this objection, it was of no use to say that this Society 
is a Society for union among Evangelical Christians—that its Tracts 
are designed to be circulated throughout America, and its issues 
must be such as will meet the approbation of all evangelical Chris- 
tians. ‘These objectors seldom allowed any to be of that charac- 
ter, unless they agreed with them on that subject. 

A press called the ‘Independent’? was established, under the 
care of a man known as a strong Abolitionist, and that paper, by 
the aid of talented and industrious contributors, has been assailing 
the Society by every weapon deemed lawful by the editors of the 
Secular Press, for the course the Society had taken on the subject 
of slavery ; intimating that the Society had large funds, and insist- 
ing that they were unwisely if not improperly used. Finding that 
some real friends of the Society were alarmed by these continued 
attacks, some of the Executive Officers, in hopes of peace, con- 


9 


sented to the appointment of a Committee to investigate the affairs 
of the Society, and report. So far as regards the financial con- 
cerns of the Society, the Report was all that its officers could 
desire; and it is somewhat remarkable, while gentlemen are 
censuring the Publishing Committee as disregarding one part of 
the Report, they are themselves stoutly assailing another branch of 
the Report. The Committee say that the Tract Society was foun- 
ded not to discuss disputed questions in theology, morals or poli- 
tics; but to spread the truth in its simplicity and purity, as it is 
held in love by all Evangelical Christians, and cherishes the hope 
that by the Divine blessing, their views of the subject, would meet 
the approbation of their Christian friends in all parts of our coun- 
try. They then recommend sundry resolutions, the fourth of which 
is, “ That in the judgment of your Committee the political aspects 
of slavery lie entirely without the proper sphere of this Society, 
and cannot be discussed in its publications, but that the moral duties 
which grow out of the existence of slavery, as well as those moral 
evils and vices which it is known to promote, and which are con- 
demned in Scripture, and also much deplored by all Evangelical 
Christians, undoubtedly do fall within the province of this Society, and 
can and ought to be discussed ina fraternal and Christian spirit;’? and 
in the ninth resolution,the Committee add ‘‘That with great confidence 
in the wisdom of the Executive Committee, we anticipate that 
their action in carrying out the principles contained in the previ- 
ous resolutions, will be such as will tend to promote the widest and 
best usefulness of this Society, throughout the whole country :”’ 
and these resolutions were adopted by the Society. Now the charge 
is, that these recommendations and resolves have not been followed, 
that the Publishing Commiitee have been unfaithful to their trust, 
and in many instances language has been used which Christian men 
should. never use towards Christian men: as that ‘They have 
betrayed their trust from the fear of men.”’ As if such men as Drs. 
Knox, Magee, and Williams and their coadjutors, and Milnor and 
Edwards, and others who have gone before them, [for the Commit- 
tee only followed the path marked out by their predecessors] were 
afraid to do their duty. These were not the men to shrink from duty 
through fear of man: they studied to know what was duty and to do it. 
After the annual meeting, the Committee were about to publish a Tract 
onthe duties of Masters, but the notes of victory were sung so loud, and 


10 


and circulated so swiftly by those whohad raised this excitement, that 
the South were led to consider it as an Abolition triumph. The news 
rejoiced the hearts of enemies, and awakened the fears of friends. 
Demagogues used them to advance their own political views, and 
enemies to the cause of religion rejoiced at the prospect of the 
diminished influence of this Society. Remonstrances came from 
all quarters of the South, individual ministers, colporteurs, agents, 
the Press, ecclesiastical bodies, and men of every name; and one 
denomination in Virginia representing one hundred thousand com- 
municants, as we are now informed, did actually withdraw from the 
Society. These circumstances led to the inevitable conclusion 
that the proposed publication must end in a dissolution of all con- 
nection with the South; this certainly was an event never contem- 
plated by this Society, as every one must believe, who knows that 
the vote of the Society was unanimous; other reasons from the 
terms used by the Committee had their weight, but in my opinion, 
the fact that we should thereby lose the whole south, was sufficient 
ground for the delay until the Society could be informed of this 
unexpected state of things. A year’s delay in changing the course 
pursued for thirty years, was of far less importance, than the sep- 
aration which must result from immediate action. The Committee 
had published the Family Bible with notes by Dr. Justin Edwards. 
They had published Tracts also on the great moral duties man owes 
to man, such as justice, charity, humanity, love of neighbors, hatred 
of oppression, and the great duties enjoined in the Bible. 

Delay then was of little consequence, compared with the ques- 
tion of final separation ; but it is said we are to do right at all 
events, and risk consequences; what is right may often depend 
upon the probable consequences ; it was right for Paul to set before 
the Emperor Nero the character of his government, and his account- 
ability to God for his dreadful persecution of the Christians, but we 
have no reason to believe he made the attempt. It would be right 
for some of our good ministers who at the North are declaiming 
against slavery, to go to the South and utter the same sentiments 
in the hearing of the oppressor: will they go? No, they tell us 
they should be in danger of losing their heads. It is well said in 
reply, it is better that one individual should lose his head than that 
the Tract Society should lose theirs: but what profit would there 
have been in this movement ?—our tracts would have been shut out 


11 


from the South on account of the obnoxious Tract issued, and would 
have been of no use at the North where the relation of master 
and slave does not exist; and thus they were to forego the oppor- 
tunity of preaching the redeeming love of Christ to millions of their 
fellow creatures. They may, too, have had in mind the advice of a 
pious foreign layman Col. Tronchin, not to allow any mingling what- 
ever of politics and the Gospel. “One,” says he, “can hardly 
form an idea of the danger that will result to Christianity from 
giving the hand or even the finger tips to political passions.’? And 
it is almost impossible to discuss the moral evils of slavery without 
becoming involved in a discussion of the evils of the system of 
slavery itself, which would, of course, connect itself with the polit- 
ical questions which the Committee say is to be avoided. Had 
the publication proposed been made, some said it would have been 
satisfactory to them ; others said it was the beginning ; and others 
claimed that a publication upon the duties of masters, would be 
wholly improper, as it would recognise the institution of slavery: 
and it is not easy to understand how the moral evils of slavery are 
to be dealt with, and that which produces them be left unnoticed. 
It would be like cutting the branches from a poisonous tree and lea- 
ving the body of the tree unmolested. 

At the last annual meeting of the Society, the Publishing Com- 
mittee reported to the meeting in a few well chosen words the diffi- 
culties and embarrassments under which they had labored, and the 
causes of delay in their publication, and a resolution approving the 
course of the Committee was proposed. The real question involved 
was, shall we now recall our colporteurs, and cease to distribute 
Tracts at the South as we have done with so great success for 
thirty years? Our pride said “Yes, we will not be dictated to,” 
our hearts said “‘No, many souls have been saved by the great 
truths we have scattered so widely abroad, many more may be,” 
and the course of the Committee was approved by an overwhelming 
vote. It has been intimated that this wus procured by ‘a curious 
set of measures.” What they were I know not; I have never 
known of any charge except that it was by the aid of New York 
merchants; why these gentlemen should not vote I know not. I 
am told that upon the test vote on Dr. Tyng’s motion, there were 
1,337 votes taken, of which three hundred and forty-five were in 
favor of the motion, and nine hundred and eighty-two against it; 


12 


and deducting all the votes of the clergy and laity from the cities 
of New York and Brooklyn, there would remain a majority of four 
votes. We had hoped that our Boston friends would have acqui- 
esced in the resnlt of this meeting, and suffered the Society to have 
continued a great national catholic organization which, by its union, 
harmony and strength, might extend an increasing influence through- 
out the world. But we should feel much deeper sorrow, if by any 
act of ours, we had deprived ourselves of the privilege of assisting 
in supplying ten millions of our fellow men with the bread of life, 
with which for many years past they have been fed from the hands 
of the Society, and which has been so kindly received and so 
greatly blessed. 


13 


Speech of JUDGE PARSONS. 


THE venerable speaker who preceded me, remarked that the 
American Tract Society was organized in New York more than 
thirty years ago, by Christians of different religious denominations. 
To which I add, that it was formed in the spirit of Him who prayed 
that his disciples might be one. From that time until recently, 
that oneness has been manifested in their joint and cordial co-ope- 
ration, in diffusing light and truth, wherever their agents or pub- 
lications could find access to the abodes, or intellects, or hearts of 
men. 

Their officers have been men of earnest piety, and of a self-sac- 
rificing spirit. Able, faithful and laborious in their devotion to the 
interests committed to their trust; and such as to command the 
respect and confidence of good men through the length and breadth 
of our Jand. 

As evidence of this, those who have had ample opportunity to 
know, have united in their testimony, as to the value, efficiency, 
and success of the Society’s operations. The late Wm. Jay said: 
It is truly a Christian institution, founded on principles, and conduc- 
ted in a spirit I peculiarly love. Dr. Miller said: I can only say 
in my old age, and near my last account, I stand ready to do all 
in my power to.co-operate with your Board in its efforts to promote 
this precious cause. Professor Greenleaf said: It is a noble enter- 
prise, deserving the hearty support of all who seek to promote the 
cause of Christ’s religion among the destitute of our country. 

In process of time however, some became disaffected: the man- 
agement of the Society was impeached, insinuations and inuendoes 
were thrown out, and a special Committee of fifteen was appointed 
to investigate its business affairs. And I purpose to prove from 
their unqualified endorsment of the domgs of the Society, that it 
is worthy of the highest confidence and undiminished support, of 
every friend of his country and of man. 


14 


This Committee in their report, presented in 1857, refer to the 
Society in its business and inits moral aspects. In regard to their 
business operations, having been furnished with every facility, and 
all the assistance they desired in making their investigations, as the 
result to whieh they came, they say, that the Society pays no extrava- 
gant salaries, allows no perquisites, and that economy and good man- 
agement extend through those branches of the Society’s operations. 
They say that the system of accounts by them pursued, needs no 
change to insure the most entire accuracy. And the Committee 
believe that the whole financial business of the Society at the 
Tract House, is managed and conducted with an economy and fidel- 
ity worthy of all praise. A full investigation was made in relation 
to the advantages of publishing their own books rather than leave 
it to private enterprise. Also, as to the capital employed; whether 
they interfered with other Societies ; what was their profit, and 
how‘it was expended. And as the conclusion of the whole, they 
recommend no change in a single particular. This is the highest 
praise the Society could ask. 

Judge Jessup, of Penn., one of the Committee, in his address 
at.the annual meeting at which the report was made, said: ‘The So- 
ciety has undergone a close scrutiny, and has come out of it, like 
gold, tried and purified seven times in the fire. He would say it 
came out of it to-day, challenging comparison with any other religi- 
ous society in the world. He could say from his position on the Com- 
mitte, that the financial affairs of the Society were unimpeachably 
transacted. 

The Committee further say; and let it be remembered,—that 
they were unanimous, each member adopting the report as his own; 
and Mr. Frelinghuysen said, their unanimity struck us with delight- 
ful and overwhelming surprise. The Committee say, that no part 
of their present operations can with propriety be curtailed. They 
cannot stop any branch of their business without seriously interfer- 
ing with others that need enlargement, and that their system of book 
and tract publication and distribution, has thus far produced only 
good fruit to the glory of God, and ought not to be disturbed. And 
the Committee then recommend a resolution, that we gratefully 
acknowledge the favor of Divine Providence in the beneficent influ- 
ence the Society has exerted upon our country and the world. 

This high and just commendation from the Special Committee is 
given, after a full and most searching investigation into every — 


15 


department of the Society’s operations. And, as I suppose, with 
the hope and belief that the Society might thereafter pursue its 
benevolent object without further hindrance or reproach. 

Why does not the Society stand on the same high ground to-night 
that it occupied in May, 1857? Its principles are the same, its 
object is the same, its mode of operation is the same, and its results 
are the same; and if it was true then, that it had produced only 
good fruits to the glory of God, and ought not to be disturbed, itis 
equally true now. And never were its fruits apparently more 
numerous, or more glorious than during the year 1858. 

For several years prior to the appointment of this Committee, 
the Society was held up to the public as unworthy of its patronage, 
its officers as men undeserving of public confidence; men who 
were persisting in a course of action directly at variance with the 
wishes of a large portion of its members, and all its fancied delin- 
quencies were discussed as matters of righteous indignation. And 
why allthis? Solely because they refused to publish tracts which 
they conscientiously believed go be without the spirit and sphere of 
their organization. 

Notwithstanding this, and with a full knowledge of all the facts, 
this distinguished and very excellent Committee of fifteen, call 
upon the Society, (I use their own language,) to acknowledge the 
favor of divine Providence in the blessmg which has rested upon 
the Society in its onward progress of success and prosperity, and 
its beneficent influence upon our country and the world. 

It is not denied but what the Society has pursued the even tenor 
of its way from that day to this. It has not deviated to the right 
hand nor to the left. Some of the former friends of the Society 
have changed their course, but not the Society itself. 

And why should those good fruits, and which the Committee say 
are only good, be blasted? Why their operations be curtailed ? 
Why their system of publication and distribution, which the Com- 
mittee say should not be disturbed, now be interfered with? Why 
should this beneficent influence on the country and the world be 
counteracted or destroyed? I have heard it replied—The Society 
should have changed its course of proceeding, after the recommend- 
ation of the Committee ; and therefore we complain, not of what 
it has done, but of what it has not done. 


16 


T answer, in the first place, that the report of the Committee is 
based upon what the Society had done up to May, 1857, and not 
upon any suggestions as to its future course. And its fruits and 
its influence are spoken of in terms of the highest approbation. 
The encomium of the Committee, and their declaration that no part 
of the Society’s operations can with propriety be curtailed; that 
the channels of usefulness are becoming deeper and broader, and 
the Society is called upon to enter and occupy all these approaches 
to the perishing; that certain branches of their business needs 
enlargement, and that their system of book and tract publication 
should not be disturbed, is not said with a proviso, that you are to 
have the benefit of our opinion only on condition that you publish 
certain other tracts which we recommend. No, it is the honest 
expression of an honest opinion, calculated to quicken the energies 
of toil-worn servants, and speed them onward in their heaven-born 
enterprise. | 

In the second place, if any Society or Corporation appoints a 
Committee to investigate its affairs, omits mode of conducting busi- 
ness, and they recommend any change in its management, it is 
entirely optional with the Society or Corporation to conform to such 
recommendation or not. And in the case of this Society, although 
their recommendation was at first approved, yet, after everything 
had been written and said which could throw additional light on the 
subject, and enable them to come to a correct result, the Society by 
a vote of three to one, decided to pursue the same course which 
they had pursued for more than thirty years; and which they have 
the testimony of these good men, has produced such glorious fruits, 
and such a beneficent influence on the country and the world. 

But it is said again, that the Society refuses to publish a tract on 
slavery, though it was taken exclusively from the Bible. 

I answer, that the tract referred to was proposed after the final 
action of the Society; that it was heralded before it was born, 
and all along its growth and transmission to the Tract House ; and 
it was publicly declared, that it was intended to test the Publishing 
Committee. And to say the least, it had more the appearance of 
an attempt to make capital, than of a sincere wish to have it pub- 
lished. 

But suppose a friend to slavery were to select all the passages 
in the Bible which apparently favor that system; or suppose 


17 


another were to select every passage which enjoins obedience to 
masters and the duties of servants towards them; or suppose, in 
answer to certain tracts heretofore published, a Universalist should 
make a selection of texts, torn from their connection, in favor of 
Universalism, and send them to Boston for publication; think you 
that those gentlemen would permit them to be printed and sent 
forth broadcast over our land? I trow not. 

But let it be further known, that at that very moment and for a 
long time previous, the Society were publishing and circulating 
those very texts, and every other text in the Bible, with a plain 
and practical commentary by the lamented Edwards who has gone 
to his rest in heaven. 

But it may be said, we do not interfere with the Society in New 
York; we have only organized a Society through which those who 
prefer it may send their contributions to Boston. If this was all, it 
would be a matter of rejoicing that a way was opened by which 
those who have witheld their contributions for several years past, 
could now appropriate them more in accordance with their views 
of duty. I would that such men might open their hearts and their 
purse, and pour their thousands into the treasury of the Lord, and 
Ibid them God speed. But it is no want of charity to say, that 
with a large portion of the opponents of the New York Society, 
such does not appear to be the object in maugurating this new 
movement. Itis virtually to divert and diminish its receipts, embar- 
tass its operations, and curtail the circulation of its publications, 
and thus destroy its efficiency and power. That such is its object 
and design, if not expressed in words, is, to my apprehension, writ- 
ten in numerous publications and speeches with the clearness of a 
sunbeam. Within a few weeks after the last annual meeting, sey- 
eral churches and other religious bodies voted, (as reported by the 
papers) not to contribute to the American Tract Society, but pro- 
posed no substitute. In some few instances, it was voted, that the 
collection usually taken up for that Society should be appropriated 
to some other specific object. 

And so far as their action was concerned, its effect was simply to 
weaken confidence in the Society, and lessen its receipts. 

And if no such motive exists here, why form a new Society and 
hold a public meeting in this church, immediately preceding the 
time, when for more than thirty years contributions have been taken 


é 


18 


up for the Society in New York. Why invite learned and able 
men to come here as its advocates, who are known to entertain the 
strongest prejudices against the Society in New York; one of 
whom, has publicly avowed his determination not to withdraw from 
the Society, nor contribute to its funds, and who at the last annual 
meeting, in reference to the vote of the majority, declared, that. 
‘in the long run the devil would not gain the victory.” Virtually 
charging such men as Drs. Spring, Alexander and De Witt, and 
a host of the wisest and best men in our country, with acting under 
the delusion o the devil ; and who added that he should never back 
out, but should be heard there again and again, so long as he had 
a tongue to speak or a hand to write, and should leave it to his 
children to continue the war, when his head should be laid in the 
grave, and his pulpit should be draped in mourning. 

That the devil had much to do in promoting division and strife 
I cannot doubt ; but whether his influence was more effective in 
producing the vote of the majority, than in perpetuating the hostil- 
ity of some of the minority, I leave for theologians to decide. 

And while it is not my province to advise, I cannot but wish 
that this able and ardent disputant, would seriously reflect upon 
what was said by the excellent Cecil, that ‘‘I could write down more 
than twenty cases, wherein I wished that God had done otherwise 
than he did; but what I now see, had I had my own way, would 
have led to extensive mischief.”’ 

And I cannot but think that this threatened war upon the Society, 
for all time to come, is particularly pleasing to the devil; and 
that every infidel in our land will join in loud acclaim his amen, and 
amen! And if it will not be considered obtrusive, I would ask some 
of his brethren to suggest to the Rey. gentleman to preach on the Sab- 
bath preceeding the next anniversary, from the text, ‘‘Behold how 
good and how pleasent it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” - 

But to return from this digression. Why attempt,—as some of 
the friends of this movement, in private conversation, have said they 
did intend,—to forestall those collections ? 

If they cannot act with us, as heretofore, why not, as the Pres- 
ident said,—and I have no doubt with entire sincerity,—why not 
separate in kindness and good will ? 

But let me not be misunderstood. I have no complaint to make 
of the Boston Society: I hope its friends will increase their sub- 


4 


19 


scriptions, and its usefulness be augmented a hundred fold: and I 
am entirely willing that the Society in New York should publish 
tracts on the evils and vices of slavery, if they deem it useful and 
expedient : but I decline to inscribe on my forehead the motto, “* Do 
this or perish.” 

Nor do I complain of the Society just organized in this city. 
Many of its members are among my best and warmest friends. I 
will say, however, if it is intended to bring the influence of this 
Society to bear upon our rural townships, and to form Societies in 
our country parishes, the respective pastors must throw their influ- 
ence into one organization or the other, families and friends will be 
separated, motives will be impeached, crimination and recrimination 
will ensue, churches and societies be divided, and the answer to 
the question in the Assembly’s catechism—Into what estate did 
the fall bring mankind ?—will ere long be exemplified in our State 
in the sad results of a well-meant, but ill-judged agitation. Nor 
do I object to their selecting their own time to hold their own anni- 
versary ; nor to the enlistment of whom they please as their mouth- 
piece. And yet, I will whisper in their hearing that divine injunc- 
tion, ‘‘ Whatsoever ye would that. men should do to you, do ye 
even so tothem.”? But is not the inference to be drawn from such 
proceedings a fair and legitimate inference, that the object is not 
solely to receive collections from willmg hands and the cheerful 
giver, but to prejudice the patrons and donors of the Society in 
New York, and to draw away and divert funds from its treasury ? 
Now, if this principle is right for any religious body, it is for every 
religious body, and for every individual. Carry it out in practice, 
and withhold your contributions for a single year, and the Society is 
dead ;—and all differences of opinion as to its future action will 
terminate. 

It is no less a maxim of morals than of law, that every man is 
responsible for the consequences that naturally flow from his con- 
duct. If then by your influence or solicitation you divert the funds 
of the Society, you destroy its efficiency and power, and you are 
responsible for the results. And as no conduct or action can be 
right upon which you cannot seek the divine blessing, it is right for 
every minister who recommends such a course of conduct, when 
offering his own, or the prayers of his people for the dissemination 
of truth,—for success in every effort to enlighten, to redeem, and 


20 


to sanctify men,—for success to the benevolent institutions of our 
land,—to add; but for the American Tract Society we ask no bles- 
sing. Its object is benevolent, its fruits good and only good, its 
influence beneficent, its success apparent and surpassing human 
expectation, but its thoughts are not our thoughts, nor its ways our 
ways; and on that let neither the dew nor the rain from heaven 
descend. Let the counsel of its officers be turned into foolishness, 
and let it come to a perpetual end. Who would not revolt from 
such a prayer? But I insist that this is only acting out the prin- 
ciple, and I present it in this form that I may call the attention of 
candid and considerate minds to the result of their actions. 

And let me say that in the attempt to divert contributions from 
their former channel, such men are using their influence to abandon 
and break down an institution which, in the language of Rey. Baron 
Stow as cited by the speaker who preceded me, is doing more than 
any other to fill the vials of incense in the hands of the angel stand- 
ing by the Altar,—an institution by whose instrumentality the poor 
have the gospel preached to them, and the scattered population of 
our country are brought under the influence and the power of truth. 
One word more and I have done. 

I would that the influence of the Tract Society, as an element 
of moral power through our wide-spread country, might be more 
truly apprehended. And that the managers of every benevolent 
society might realize, that they are alike dependent upon a favor- 
ing public sentiment for the accomplishment and success of their 
high mission, and that they cannot put in peril a single foundation 
principle, or weaken public confidence at any one point, without 
endangering the interests of the whole sisterhood ‘of benevolent 
associations. 


21 


4 Speech of Judge ELLSWORTH. 





we? 8° T ate rio apologist for slavery,—much less for the extension of 


- slavery into new territories and countries. I have a strong prefe- 
rence for free and intelligent laborers. Human slavery is a great 
and unmitigated wrong, and, like every great wrong, is a great 
calamity to all who are connected with it. And if anything could 
give strength and depth to my anti-slavery sentiments,it is the fact 
that slavery is likely to involve the duration and destiny of our 
country. In hope of concealing its enormity, and its enormous 
encroachments on freedom, it unceasingly cries out, Sectionalism ! 
Sectionalism! while it is itself all sectional, all exclusive, and insati- 
able. Its sway is complete in the Congress of the United States, 
our national council, as is seen (and I speak from personal obser- 
vation) in the election of its presiding officers, the organization of 
its committees, and the character and policy of many of its enact- 
ments and proceedings. It has reached and is felt and feared by 
the higher functionaries of the government. 

Thus much I have thought it my duty to say on the present 
occasion, that I may place myself right on the record as to sla- 
very, while I address you on another and kindred subject, more 
congenial and appropriate to the occasion. It is, what course the 
American Tract Society ought to pursue in relation to this exciting 
subject, and the course which American Christians ought to pursue 
in relation to this Society? Some persons insist that the Society 
ought to continue the course it has pursued for some forty years 
under the guidance of men of great wisdom, experience and piety, 
while others say, it ought to change its course and become more 
specifically and absolutely anti-slavery; and that it no longer 
deserves the confidence and charities of the Christian public. Now, 
this latter position is most surprising and startling, and he is cer- 
tainly a bold man that will proclaim it, as certain gentlemen from 
abroad have recently done in the place where I now stand. 


22 


Let me say, first of all, that I have no quarrel with Christian 
brethren here or elsewhere, who seek for a new channel for the 
distribution of religious Tracts, and who can bestow their charity, 
designed for this purpose, with more cheerfulness and confidence 
through some other organ than the American Tract Society. I 
have no doubt of the sincerity and purity of their motives and aims, 
nor will I presume to assume to myself better intentions or higher 
sagacity than theirs, but I will say that they have taken upon them- 
selves a great responsibility when they turn their backs upon this 
ancient, well-tried, ever faithful and divinely blest Society, and 
enlist under other leaders from abroad, who so recently addressed 
you here, and from whose remarks, if they have been correctly 
reported to me, I should infer, some of them would think it no loss 
to religion, if the Society’s Tract House, with all its contents, was 
reduced to ashes, and the Directors and Secretaries turned out to 
graze on the mountains. 

What, sir, is the difficulty with this Society? One proclaims 
that it publishes its Tracts when it should buy them of booksellers ; 
another that it sends out ignorant Tract distributors under the 
graceful name of colporters, to the endangering of sound theology ; 
another that they don’t keep their accounts so that the true state 
of their affairs can be understood; that at one time they foolishly 
and unnecessarily waste the Society’s money, and then again are 
rolling it up and investing it in buildings and machinery; and in 
short are conducting their business without wisdom, economy or 
safety, and that the experience of forty years is thrown away upon 
them ; that they will not be enlightened, and some even surmise that 
their faithfulness, if not their piety, is becoming doubtful. As for 
patriotism, they absolutely have none at all, because they are not 
more specifically anti-slavery. 

Well, let these charges go for what they are worth. I have no 
time to refute them, nor need I, for it has been done again and 
again in print, and may be read of all men, and there are few per- 
sons beside those who utter the charges, who believe them to be 
founded in truth in any degree, except as to slavery, about which 
I intend to speak before I sit down. Who, I ask, are these direc- 
tors and secretaries that are thus seemingly arraigned for imbecility 
or unfaithfulness ? Look over their names,—some thirty of them 
divines and laymen most distinguished in their several depart- 


23 


ments, for piety, knowledge, wisdom, experience, success in life, 
and, let me add, for financial and practical talent; most of whom 
have, year after year, generously and freely given days and weeks 
and months of toil and study, to their high and heaven-born trust. 
Are these the men to be reckoned incompetent or unfaithful? If 
such men as Frelinghuysen, Tyng, Milner, our own Williams, and 
their compeers, are to be recorded untrustworthy or incompetent,— 
where,—where, let me ask, shall we ever find safe public almon- 
ers? If this be so, well may we despair of finding Christian integrity. 
Let us then, close at once our organized charities, and each act for 
himself. 

For one, I must express my repugnance to these flippant asser- 
tions, and my fear of the men who make them. However uncon- 
scious they may be of the consequences, they are shaking the con- 
fidence of Christians throughout the land. Sir, if these directors 
and secretaries who have so long administered this charity, are really 
incompetent for the places they attempt to fill, why, let them be 
removed at the first opportunity, and if votes enough cannot be 
obtained to do it, then let the mimority remember that they may be 
the persons, after all, who are in the wrong, and that the majority 
may be in the right; at least, let them cease their defiant threats, 
and no longer use their distinguished talents and position to create 
suspicion and distrust as to this long-honored and beloved institution. 

But, sir, the great charge against the Society is, | am persuaded, 
its refusal to assume a more distinct and specific attitude against 
slavery. I do not believe this Christian community have been or — 
can be induced to withhold confidence or their charities from the 
society upon any other of the charges made. Now, as I am inclin- 
ing to anti-slavery myself, somewhat, I shall treat this objection 
with all possible fairness and kindness, if for no other cause than 
the great esteem I have for Christian brethren here who have 
turned away from this Society as no longer worthy of their confi- 
dence or their bounty. 

It is now nearly forty years since the American Tract Society 
‘was established in New York. Its aim has ever been—by means 
of tracts, cheap books, colportage, and papers for youth,—to spread 
broadcast religious literature through the land, and through all 
lands, especially aiming to reach the poor and unlearned, for their 
publications are not designed for doctors of divinity, (however some 


24 


of them might be profited by their careful perusal), nor for scholars. 
From the first, the Society has had the confidence, the co-operation 
and the charities of every portion of this vast country. Under 
this fostering mfluence and the blessing of God, it has grown from 
a germ to become a mighty tree, spreading its branches over our 
entire country and the world, and its ripe fruit is now dropping or. 
every hand. It has become one of the great charities of the age. 
I ask now if God has not vouchsafed to it his blessmg, and if we 
may not hope for it in all time to come? Yes, sir, it has had the 
prayers of Christians everywhere, and I have seen the very gen- 
tlemen who now come here to divert your benevolence and affec- 
tion, standing in this place, emiment champions in its behalf; and I 
shall never forget a figure of speech made use of by one of them in 
his zeal for the Society. Said he, “Turn your pockets inside out 
that nothing shall be left in them.’ The course of the Society is 
the same now as it was at that time. Why then, cast suspicion 
upon its officers? Why weaken it in public estimation? Why 
restrict its operations ? Why make us to grieve over the defec- 
tion of valuable friends ? 

Now, Mr. President, I wish to look at this question practically. 
I am a practical man myself. I don’t like technics anywhere; I 
don’t like them in my profession nor in theology. I wish to deal 
with the subject just as my much beloved pastor deals with great 
truths in this desk from Sabbath to Sabbath. He has taught me 
_ the importance of common sense in the inculcation of truth. What 
in the end is to be gained ?—this is the question. Or, in another 
form, how can the Society by its publications,—all of which are 
good and correct as far as they go,—reach the greatest number of 
minds, and plant in them the seeds of Christian truth? What 
does Christian expediency require ?—for that again is the point. 
Will most good be done by closing every Slave State against the 
Society’s publications and colporters? For, however the South 
ought to allow of the circulation of suitable tracts on the topic of 
slavery, still we know they will not, and that the putting forth of 


iY 


one such tract would be the means of excluding from their borders — 


all tracts. This, [ must think, the celebrated Committee of Fifteen 
did not at the time apprehend would be the result, but the direc- 
tors on the ground, from further and full information, ascertained 


that such exclusion would inevitably result, and therefore they. 


4 


20 


judged it wise to delay a while, and to appeal to the Society for 
instructions. They did so, and their course was fully sustained: a 
proceeding of no unusual or extraordinary occurrence in human 
affairs. What good now will it do to publish tracts specifically anti- 
slavery ? I say, what good willit do? Surely we are not going 
to run after phantoms, nor let our righteous indignation,—however 
the slave-holders deserve it, as we view the matter,—override all 
Christian prudence and expediency. ‘This I conceive is the true 
question at issue, Christian expediency, how can most good be 
accomplished? If 10,000 persons can be reached and benefitted 
by such tracts as have been published, and only 5,000 by pursuing 
a different course, who will rise up and say the latter is the best 
one? Now, the gentlemen entrusted with the affairs of this Soci- 
ety, who bring to their duties as officers not only great wisdom and 
ability, but the experience of 10, 15, or 20 years, say itis not the 
best course, and the Society say it is not, and the world say it is 
Mot, and by the time the Society in Boston has published two such | 
tracts, they will say it is not, for as Christian men they will soon 
discover they can find better and more useful matter for circulation. 

When I say that the true question is one of expediency, I do 
not mean to use the word expediency in any low or unscriptural 
sense, for 1 am a full believer in the “‘ higher law,” as I understand 
it, to wit, our highest allegiance is to God. If politicians who use 
the word as one of reproach, mean something else by it, I may or 
may not agree with them. 

From the last report of the Society I see that during the period 
of its existence, it has published more than 3300 different tracts 
and books in English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, 
Hawaiian, and Creek Indian, which are published from time to time 
as needed, and forty-seven during the last year. Itsends out over 
560,000 copies of the Messenger and Child’s Paper monthly, to 
gladden the hearts of thousands of children in our Sabbath Schools 
and elsewhere. It has employed during the year, 800 colporters, 
warm-hearted, self-denying Christian colporters. Now, my Chris- 
tian friends, will you, can you look with a jealous eye upon this stu- 
pendous and divine charity ? Will you cripple its operations, will 
you withhold from it your confidence that never has been abused, 
or your bounty which has never been wasted or misapplied? Stay, 
stay, I conjure you, stay, the misjudged act. 


26 


I would not on any account speak or think unkindly of the Bos- 
ton Society. It will do all the good in its power. I wish for it 
every possible success ; but it is comparatively a small affair, you 
must admit, comparatively weak and inexperienced. Twenty years ‘ 
of hard labor and a full treasury will not give it the power to do 
good which the American Tract Society possesses and has possessed 
for many years. No, never, never, can any Society in New Eng-- 
land fill the place of one in New York, and that one which you are 
asked to discard because its officers and the great body of its mem- 
bers cannot see the wisdom of identifying themselves more dis- 
tinctly with anti-slavery efforts, which are advocated by the great 
body of the newspapers in every free State. 

I have said nothing of the constitutional question about which 
so much has been spoken, for Judge Williams has most satisfacto- 
rily attended to that; and besides, I have always preferred to put 
the question at issue on the simple ground of Christian expediency. 
Every person can understand that, and can judge of its pertinency 
and force. 

Sir, [ willsay but one thing more. If a man’s affairs are invol- 
ved im perplexing questions of law, he asks professional advice, and 
when obtained, thinks it most prudent to follow it. If his family 
are sick, he seeks a physician of integrity and skill, and follows the 
prescriptions he has received. So if private Christians wish to 
know how they can do the most good in distributing cheap religi- 
ous literature through an organized Christian society, they will 
take the opinion of men experienced in the matter, and of enlight- 
ened and long-tried wisdom, but if they wish to carry a point merely, 
irrespective of its general consequences, they will not be likely to 
resort to such sources for information. 








